Fabulous Sauvignon Blanc
There is much more to Sauvignon Blanc than just tropical flavours and being a bestseller. Even its name, which means ‘wild white’, creates an expectation of something different. Increasingly the choice of both the novice wine drinker as well as the sophisticated sommelier, the cultivar is not to be put in a box, or at least, not just in one.
In celebration of international Sauvignon Blanc Day on Friday 3 May 2024, Sauvignon Blanc South Africa shares some facts and trends about this versatile cultivar.
Peter Pentz Jr.
.Peter Pentz Jr of Groote Post Vineyards, between Darling and Yzerfontein sums up South African Sauvignon Blanc as a jack of all trades, and a master too. “Firstly, it can be deep and serious, it can be seafood-beautiful, green, or fruity. Secondly, it gives you a taste of the microclimate in your glass, reflecting the character of its origin. Thirdly, it is not just an incredible single cultivar, but a complex wine that welcomes other cultivars such as Semillon.”
Riandri Visser and friends
Winemaking at Cape Point Vineyards really opened her eyes to Sauvignon Blanc, says winemaker Riandri Visser. “Here we farm with the wind and Sauvignon Blanc, it’s a fine balance between what we can control and what nature teaches us every year,” Visser explains. “At Cape Point, it makes sense to make Sauvignon Blanc aged in wood. The wine is the work of art, and the wood forms the framework.”
Warren Ellis, winemaker at Neil Ellis Wines, believes that more needs to be done for consumers to better understand older white wines. As not all styles allow ageing, Ellis advises that good Sauvignon Blanc that only shows its best after a year or two in the bottle, should still be fresh, fruity, and lively.The vintage is not the expiry date.
The proof is in the accolades, with Delaire Graff Coastal Cuveé Sauvignon Blanc 2017 winning the South Africa Revelation Trophy and a Grand Gold medal in the 2024 Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB). Also, out of 19 five-star Sauvignon Blancs, a total of 16 older vintages, from 2020 to 2022, star in the 2024 Platter Guide.
WIN! WITH SAUVBLANC TICKING MORE THAN 1 BOX
Head over to @SauvignonBlancSA on Facebook or Instagram. In celebration of SauvBlancDay, five followers each stand a chance to win two boxes of wine with six South African and six international Sauvignon Blancs from older vintages!